Agenda and minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 22 October 2024 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 22 October 2024 were approved as a correct record.

The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

No declarations were made at this point.

Members were advised that there had been no requests to speak at the meeting in accordance with Cabinet’s agreed procedure.

The Leader welcomed new members of Cabinet to the meeting and confirmed that any non-Cabinet members in attendance would be permitted to ask questions on the various reports as they were presented (Cabinet Procedure Rule 17 refers).

Report of the Chief Executive

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive to enable Cabinet to make appointments to a number of Outside Bodies and Partnerships following the revisions to the composition of Cabinet.

Councillors were reminded that Members nominated to outside bodies, partnerships and boards by Cabinet were representing the views of Cabinet in such positions, rather than any views they might hold as individuals. It  was recommended that appointments be aligned as closely as possible to individual Cabinet Members’ portfolios.

It was proposed by Councillor Caroline Jackson and seconded by Councillor Dowding:

“That the appointments to the Outside Bodies be agreed and appended to the minutes.”

Resolved unanimously:

That the appointments to the Outside Bodies be agreed and appended to the minutes.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer Governance

Reasons for making the decision:

Representation on Outside Bodies is part of the City Council’s Leadership role.

Report of Assistant Director (Head of Revenues and Benefits)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Assistant Director (Head of Revenues and Benefits) to enable Cabinet to consider the existing Localised Council Tax Support (“LCTS”) Scheme and the options available, ahead of formal consideration and approval by Council for application in 2025/26.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The challenge for the Council is to adopt a scheme that fits with its ambitions and priorities and is considered fair, deliverable and affordable, given statutory obligations and competing pressures for resources. Council is presented with two basic options:

Option 1:

Retain the existing Localised Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme, subject to minor consequential amendments to match changes in Housing Benefit rules.

 - The existing scheme is considered soundly structured and works well, and offers maximum support for low-income families, who may otherwise find themselves in mounting debt.

- Current forecast assumes the continuation of the existing LCTS system and as such, maintaining current levels of support would normally have no impact on the Council’s financial forecast. However, costs have increased in recent years with increased take-up due to Covid-19, the cost-of living crisis and annual Council tax increases.  2024/25 has seen a small reduction in residents receiving LCTS from 9,574 in 2023/24 to 9,310 in 2024/25. Should this trend continue, this could reduce costs of the scheme in the long term.

- Retaining existing policy principles of keeping various positive entitlement provisions for LCTS in line with other key welfare benefits promotes equality.

Option 2:

Make changes to the existing Localised Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme to reduce benefit entitlement for working age claimants.

- Currently 9,310 residents claim LCTS in the Lancaster district. As pensioners make up 38% (3,565) of claimants, it means any cut in the level of support provided falls on the remaining 62% (5,745) of working age people on low incomes.

- A reduction in the levels of support provided could arguably provide claimants with further incentives to work, reducing their reliance on benefits, although the jobs market is particularly uncertain at this difficult time.

- This option will have greater adverse financial impact on working age households but would help protect other Council services by requiring less savings to be made by them.

- If levels of support are reduced, the Council would be tasked with the difficulty of collecting this debt from the more vulnerable members of our society, increasing workloads and costs associated with council tax recovery.

- Additional costs associated with developing new scheme options, consultation exercise, legal changes to scheme etc.

Report of Chief Executive and s151 Officer

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive and 151 Officer to provide members with an update on financial performance during the first two quarters of 2024/25 (April – September 2024).

As the report was for commenting and noting no options were provided. The Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility talked to the report and responded to questions.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Reasons for making the decision:

Performance, project and resource monitoring provides a link between the Council plan and operational achievement by providing regular updates on the impact of operational initiatives against strategic aims.

Report of the Chief Executive

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive to provide members with an update on performance and projects during quarter two of 2024 - 25 (July - September 2024).

As the report was for commenting and noting no options were provided.  The Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility talked to the report and made particular reference to the reduction in both statutory homeless figures and sickness absence.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Reasons for making the decision:

Monitoring of strategic projects and key performance indicators provides a link between the Council Plan 24-27 by providing progress updates.

Report of the Chief Executive

This report contains an exempt appendix, and the press and public will be excluded from the meeting if Cabinet are minded to refer to the information within the exempt appendix.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive that provided an update on the authority’s progress in updating the Strategic Risk Register.

As the report was for noting no options were provided.  Councillor Philip Black suggested that there might be several projects masked under a broader heading that might deserve an independent line e.g. Mainway and Skerton High.  These were currently within SR08 and the Leader confirmed that this would be considered further.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Reasons for making the decision:

The Council have a Risk Management Policy which is written to provide guidance on the management of risk.  Risk Management is identified in the Council Plan 2024-27.

Report of Chief Finance Officer

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Finance Officer to provide an update on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy forecasts for 2025/26 to 2029/30 and outline the approach to balancing the budget.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

As the report is for consideration and alternative options are put forward, the Cabinet could make supplementary recommendations regarding any matters.

It must be reiterated that the current forecasts do not include any interventions by Cabinet, Senior Leadership Team or the outcomes of the Local Government Settlement. Whilst some savings have been delivered, the forecasts show that potential annual and cumulative budget deficits still remain over the next 5 years and continue to need to be addressed. In light of this, balancing the budget both in the short and the medium term remains a tough task and all Members must work together and recognise that they will face a number of difficult but key decisions as part of the forthcoming budget and over the coming financial years which will affect the manner in which it delivers its services.

Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed, seconded by Councillor Dowding:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved”.

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)            That the draft future years estimates as set out in the report as the latest information available, accepting that this is an interim position be noted.

(2)            That the update be referred on to December Council for information.

(3)            That the Council Tax Base for 2025/26 as set out in paragraph 3.12 to the report be noted.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Finance Officer

Reasons for making the decision:

Performance, project, and resource monitoring provides a link between the Council Plan and operational achievement, by providing regular updates on the impact of operational initiatives against strategic aims.